How do you know if you're depressed? I think I might be, but it could just be being run down and worn out.

[Suddengeekgirl]

Just that really

Things that I would normally take in my stride are really getting to me
I struggle to sleep if I wake up at night, but have no trouble falling alseep. But I always feel tired
I'm reaching for the chocolate LOADS
I don't feel like I'm enjoying things/ dh/ the dcs/ life like I used to.
I feel flat.

Dd (nearly 4) is having a horrible screaming argumentative phase which isn't helping.

I've had cold after cold and a really bad wisdom tooth extraction in the last month. So I could just be run down.

I don't know really. But I have a dr appointment - not till the end of the month though.

I did the nhs depression test online and scored 16 - which was very likely depressed

What's the difference between run down and depressed?

never had depression myself, but my sil said it was like being in a dark tunnel

I don't think it feels like that

At the minute I either feel numb or hopeless. :(

From what you've written it sounds like you could be depressed. Stress/feeling down - depression can also give you cold like symptoms. It's good that you're going to see your GP. In the meantime could you try St John's Wort? There around a fiver in Asda and Tesco they might help lift your mood?

Well done on making an appointment with your GP. I've realised that I'm depressed again for several months before finally going to see my GP. I thought that after 5 years off ADs I was free from depression, seems not.

Good luck at your doctor's appointment.

Depression for me feels like a crushing inability to do anything. And a constant, gnawing, empty hole inside x

Like the mental state of a hangover without most of the physical symptoms, and not a drop to drink the night before, for me, varying down to some fairly horrible states that I won't describe here.

And one of the symptoms of being run down and poorly is ... mild depression. So, yeah. Whether you need ADs or just a good recuperate is a question to go over with your GP. The wisdom tooth extraction's the one I'd like for the culprit: having your teeth messed about with is well-known for putting your mentals on the fritz.

I had PND and I stopped feeling like 'me', I couldn't find anything to feel happy about. It feels like you're a void, not a person.

Thanks all! :)

I've felt less hopeless yesterday and most of today. But right now I'm feeling worn out again and fed up.
Part of it is feeling sad that I appear to have been cut out of what I thought was a very close friendship group. We had been friends since antenatal classes and although several families (including us) have moved away I thought That distance didn't matter that much.
So that sucks a lot. :(

Thanks for all your descriptions. Hope everyone is working towards a more positive place. :)

I could have written your post and nearly have before. I too not sure if I feel sad and down due to just general life - busy at work, 2 young kids (both testing boundaries at the mo too), always tired, lack of affection between me and DH, a few money worries or if it is depression in some form.

I had PND after dd2 was born which wasn't diagnosed until she was about 8months old, mostly down to me ignoring it. Things picked up when I went back to work which I think was a pleasant change of scene and great to see friends again and I got into a better groove.

But tonight for example, both kids don't want me (I am the bad cop, DH much more patient that me, so is the goodie) tone about (I hate you, get away from me type of thing) and I feel crap. Wanted to run away and cry.

But another day I might feel great. So I just don't know. I might try that st johns wort though, see if that helps take the edge off feeling useless.

Tone about = shouting out

I feel flat
exactly my husbands words, he is now on antidepressants.

Being depressed is quite normal when you are run down. Be aware of it. But treat it a but like having a cod. It is irritating and it makes you feel crap but it will probably go in time. I say this because if you start looking for all the reasons you are depressed you might find some.
If you are not normally prone to depression then the chances are it is self limiting. But if you focus on specific issues you miht find that those issues get a hold of you and drag you down after the depression would have run its course iyswim.

i have been ill and as a result am now depressed. I recognise it because it happened before. I am trying to avoid dark thoughts because I know they are just that thoughts not necessarily reality. And they are not helpful.

Sometimes depression just is in the same way colds just are.

Be kind to yourself. Get lots of rest. Hope you feel better soon.